Looking for some fun and unique things to do in Philly this weekend? We’ve got you covered.
Main Line Today Restaurant Week
Main Line Today Restaurant Week is officially back to put the spotlight on the best and brightest culinary venues of the area for its fall event. The activation runs now through Nov. 18 and will feature top spots from around Montgomery, Delaware, and Chester counties.
As a release states, Main Line Today Restaurant Week began in 2021 and is offered twice a year. The event has expanded from a few dozen restaurants to over 40 (and growing) in 2023. With a special focus on independent and local operations, this activation aims to rally diners and foodies to support the most notable restaurants, bars, eateries, BYOBs and takeout spots while taking advantage of special prix fixe offers.
Those offers span three and four-course prix fixe menus that range from $25 to $35 for lunch and $30 to $55 for dinner (plus beverage, tax, and gratuity.) All options are available for dine-in, and some for take-out. A full list of what spots are participating and offering can be found online.
Philly Magic Tours
If you’re looking for something unique for things to do in Philly, this might be it. The Philly Magic Walking Tours comes from a local award-winning magician, Robert Malissa. This experience is described as combining historic and offbeat locations, theatrical presentations, audience participation, comedy, and jaw-dropping magic tricks performed just a few feet away from participants, according to a release.
The trek will feature eight presentations, and tickets run for $30. A full schedule of available tours can be found online.
‘Black Founders: The Forten Family of Philadelphia’
The Museum of American Revolution’s latest exhibit, ‘Black Founders: The Forten Family of Philadelphia’, will be on display until Nov. 26.
‘Black Founders’ features over 100 different artifacts meant to tell the story of free Black Philadelphian James Forten from the Revolutionary era through the Civil War and Reconstruction. The Forten family played roles in the Revolutionary War, business in Philadelphia, and the abolitionist movement from 1776 to 1876, and Philadelphians will get to see just how far their reach went through the showcase.
‘Black Founders’ was created by the museum’s in-house curatorial team and features items from over 40 lenders and the MoAR’s own collection. The exhibit features videos, audio experiences, and tactile interactives, including a partial recreation of James Forten’s sail-making workshop that visitors can step inside to discover replica tools and a workbench like those used by Forten, a release states.
‘Black Founders’ will also feature an original first-person theatrical performance that will take place in the Alan B. Miller Theater, a family guide for the exhibit, educator resources, audio tours with transcriptions for an extra few dollars, guided tours, outdoor walking tours around the neighborhood and an exhibition catalogue.
Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival
The best and brightest in filmmaking will be on display at the 16th Annual Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival, which runs now through Nov. 12. With events and screenings held both virtually and in-person, this hybrid festival celebrates the stories of Asians and Pacific Islanders in film, performance art, music and other creative expressions.
All events will be held at the Asian Arts Initiative in Chinatown, with the with the exception of ‘The Fight for Our Communities’, which takes place at Chinese Christian Church and Center (1101 Vine Street). Films are also accessible through online rentals. A complete schedule is available online.
1219 Vine Street, tickets.paaff.org/2023
Halloween Nights at Eastern State Penitentiary
Halloween may be over, but there’s still time to enjoy the chills and thrills at Eastern State Penitentiary. This is the last weekend for Philadelphians and visitors to get in the spooky spirit—Halloween Nights closes Nov. 11.
Halloween Nights features three new reimagined experiences, on top of all of the fan favorites. A huge part of the activation is the haunted houses—five to be exact—plus historic tours, museum experiences and seasonal activations in the form of a s’mores lounge, themed bars and performances. When inside of the ESP, those brave enough to participate can make their way through the Big Top Terror, Nightmares, The Crypt, Machine Shop and Delirium.
Halloween Nights has also expanded several scare zones throughout the festival for the 2023 season, including a courtyard in the northwest corner of the Penitentiary complex that now allows two paths for visitors to choose from with scary, or less scary as choices.
On the educational side, visitors can check out the “The Voices of Eastern State Highlights Audio Tour” —featuring a 20-minute, abbreviated version of their audio tour with actor Steve Buschemi narrating, plus the voices of people who were incarcerated or worked at Eastern State—or some of the award-winning the museum exhibits located on the grounds.
For a full list of offerings for Halloween Nights at Eastern State Penitentiary, visit their website.
2027 Fairmount Ave., easternstate.org
